[nagdu] Stress Issues

Tue Sep 6 14:26:06 UTC 2011

Laura, 
I disagree with some of what Dan says, and agree with other aspects. 
A little scavenging is probably normal. 
That being said, it does sound like your dog either has a medical issue or some very bad house manners.  
You need to decide if the guide work you get from this dog is worth putting up with these other issues. Take love out of the equation while you think through this.  We all love, though just because you love something or someone doesn't mean you can live with them. 

Telling you that the dog is "just not an off-leash dog" is good information. You can use it to either keep the dog on leash, keep the dog in a crate or decide you just can't live like this. 

It's incredibly easy for someone who doesn't live with "it" to tell you something is okay. The "it" doesn't much matter.  

I hope you find the resources to make a decision that puts you at peace.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Weiner
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2011 12:26 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Stress Issues

Well, none of you will like this  but, maybe don't worry so much if your dog
gets things off the floor in your apartment, if your roommate drops
something and he eats it, just let it go and say tomorrow's another day.
Or just tell him not to do it, put him on leash temporarily and let him go
again.
He may just be an exuberant dog who's pretty determined and you might just
have to let things ride a bit.
Carter is a great working dog but he can get in to things or try to steal
things, it's part of being a dog.

Now, what I don't know is whether your roommate has a melt-down every time
that happens--smile.

If outside, the main thing that would worry me is if she, or he got loose
and you couldn't get the dog back.

You're obviously feeling stressed an that's also contributing.
I've gone through this and I suspect what is happening could be, every time
you let your pup loose in doors you're on tenterhooks because you think the
pup's getting in to something.

Now, having said all of that, I do think the school should feel a little
ridiculous saying that it  is "just not an off leash dog".

All of my dogs, though, have done mischievous things indoors sooner or later
and I'm afraid that for the most part I didn't put them on a 24 hour leash
or tie-down regimen.  I suspect I'm flying in the face of the party line but
it worked out for me.
The only time Carter's on leash at home is if someone new is coming to the
door because he gests too excited and wants to run out the door and take his
time getting back in, and if I think someone left food on the counter.
He's on leash at home very rarely...oh, and yes when the cleaning lady comes
because she's afraid he's going to bite even though he won't--lol.

So, that's maybe one half of a percent of the time--smile.  That isn't
saying that you're doing things wrong, but I think it's the ideal not to
have your dog under wraps 24/7.

Dan the man, Carter the nut

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Lora
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2011 12:11 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Stress Issues

My dog eats things off the ground even though I try and pick up. He tries to
eat things off the edge of tables. He tries to drink out of my roommates cup
even though he has fresh water in his bowl. Off leash outside he gets into
the garden and eats produce eats grass all the time and anything else he can
find to put in his mouth even though he has a toy outside. If I have the
door closed to my room he will lay next to me but that's about it. If my
roommate accidentally drops something my dog immediately comes over and eats
it. I'm not trying to be a pesamist just trying to explain.

On 9/5/11, Dan Weiner <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net> wrote:
> Well, remember, none of us know you and your dog, unfortunately.
> But, what exactly are the issues you have off-leash.
> My personal inclination, and it sounds like I'm being mean but I'm 
> really not trying to be, just being blunt, is that maybe the dog's 
> being stressed because you feel the need or you've had to micromanage 
> him, keeping him, or her, on leash or tie-down, or the crate.
> So, I'm just curious what does he/she do when say you let him off 
> leash at home, does he get in to things, maybe you can just let him 
> off leash when you're at home in your dorm room or whatever?
>
> I realize the way it sounds is as if I were lambasting you, but I'm 
> not trying to, I'm more trying to be a detective to see what's the matter.
>
> I've known one or two people who's dogs were stressed because it turns 
> out, they just got no freedom whatsoever, every move they make was 
> being regulated because the handler was so nervous about what would
happen.
>
> Dan the man, Carter the nut
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Cindy Ray
> Sent: Monday, September 05, 2011 11:44 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Stress Issues
>
> Wow! I don't think "I guess this dog just can't be an off leash dog" 
> is really an acceptable answer. I have had a batch of dogs and several 
> problems, but I never had one that had to always be tied, leashed, or 
> crated. Cindy
>
> On Sep 5, 2011, at 10:39 AM, Lora wrote:
>
>> My school gave me lots of methods that I tried to get this dog to 
>> listen of leash and finally the school was like well I guess this dog 
>> can't be an off leash dog.
>>
>> On 9/5/11, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I can't remember if you have spoken to the school about this. You 
>>> shouldn't have lots of off leash problems with him at this point. If 
>>> it was stress though, wouldn't his guiding be affected, too? I don't 
>>> really know. I had a dog once that the vet said was stress drinking, 
>>> but she was a good working dog. I hope someone can help you more 
>>> than I
> can apparently help.
>>>
>>> CL
>>>
>>> On Sep 5, 2011, at 10:25 AM, Lora wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've had him for about a year. I know I have a very busy lifestyle.
>>>> His guide work is amazing and I like him as a dog. His off leash 
>>>> issues are about the only issue. I've had previous dogs that have 
>>>> had lots of problems.
>>>>
>>>> On 9/5/11, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> I can't remember how long you have had this dog. Weren't you 
>>>>> having trouble with him from the time you got him? I can't 
>>>>> remember for sure. I can't remember where he came from either, 
>>>>> though in the end that wouldn't matter.
>>>>> Why do you think he has so much stress in his life?
>>>>>
>>>>> Cindy
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sep 5, 2011, at 10:08 AM, Lora wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello List:
>>>>>> I know we've probably had this discussion before but I would 
>>>>>> appreciate it if we could have it again. My dog is loosing a lot 
>>>>>> of hair and I think it is due to stress since he is on a good 
>>>>>> diet. I can't trust him off leash since he doesn't listen at all.
>>>>>> I have tried letting him play on a flexilead but he won't run 
>>>>>> around. I play with him tug of war and other games like that but 
>>>>>> I don't think he's getting enough stress out of his life. Do you 
>>>>>> have
> any suggestions?
>>>>>> Thank You.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Lora
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Lora
>>>>
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>> --
>> Lora
>>
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--
Lora

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